New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-04-30
MR. GLADSTONES PARABLE.

Mr. GladSt0ncS historical essay on poAIcdi
movements thirty five years ago embodies what
he terms a parable. He describes the formation
Of the Parliamentary group known as the Peel
ties and the confusion in English politics
caused by their separation from the Consery-
ative party. Referring to the period intervcn
ing between the repeal of the Corn laws and the
organization of the Aberdeen Ministry, he re-
marks "The drama then played out Is
parable of many other dramas. The facts arc
facts of the past but the lessons are OF the pres
ent and of the future The inference which he
wishes to be drawn is this that third-party
movements, while sometimes unavoidable, are
attended with protracted public inconvenience
"The intermediate position he remarks, Sis
essentially false position, and nothing can
long disguise its falsencss.' He quotes one OF
Lady Clanricarde's witticisms to the effect
that the Peelites were continually "putting
themselves up to auction and then buying
themselves in,' and confesses having told Lord
Derby at the time that the Peelites were "a
public nuisance This is a singularly frank
statement from one of Sir Robert Peers most
intimate associates Mr.. Gladstone has found
leisure for reviewing the events of forty years
ago and the present disorganization of the
Liberal party has embittered his reflections
He AYERS that the sum of power to render ser
vice to the State is not increased, but dimln-
isbed. by the formation Of third party. It's
leaders, he says, can do little or nothing by
counsel; the benefits they confer are lightly
esteemed and tho blows they iDfiict are
keeny resented.
The parable relates to the Unionists. who have
scparated themselves from the main body OF the
Liberal party precisely as the Peelites aban-
doned the Conservatives. That group COM
prises many of the most influential leaders.
Mr. Gladstone being left very much as Mr..
Disraeh was in 1916, the one man OF pre-
eminent ability on his side while the minority
or third party is well equipped with debaters.
The Unionists cannot form Cabinet OF their
own. and are condemned to hold an inter
mediate position, aiding temporarily in keep
ing Tory Government in power, but destined
inevitably to unite with the party which they
have opposed in the past. The Peelites Boosted
for many years that they were more conserv-
alive than tho Tories from whom they had
separated, but after long interval of political
confusion. they coalesccd with the Wings and
formed the powerful Liberal party. The
Jnionists In like manner will gradually be
absorbed by the Conservative party. With
the exception of Mr.. Chamberlain, the leaders
are moderate men with conservative tendencies.
They will follow in Mr. Goschen's track when
they find their Liberal constituencies slipping
away from them. Meanwhile, they occupy,
as Mr.. Gladstone truly says. false position.
They are blocking the progress of events and
subjccting the State to protracted Inconvenience
Tho parable may have wider application
than tho specific one Mr.. Gladstone had In
mind. Ho remarks that tho Peehtes never
thought of forming Government OF their
own, because they knew that 'dichotomy, and
not trichotomy, was for our times the law OF
tho Nations political lfe." BY this for
nidable phrase no characterizes third party
movements-the separation Of q minority group
from one Of the main political bodles-as "a
public nuisance at entails heavy no